North Wellington 1 v BNU16 2

Striker nails North Wellington

BNU’s very own media star Angus Deacon and creator of Striker, the new Team Wellington mascot, morphed into his own creation at Alex Moore Park.

Always a consistent threat down the right flank, he capped a man-of-the match performance with a well taken winning goal, midway through the second half of a scrappy encounter.

Playing with the strong southerly in the first half BNU enjoyed plenty of possession and deservedly went ahead after 15 minutes when a low drilled cross from yours truly resulted in a penalty decision for deliberate handball. With goal machine John Lee in prime form, there was never a doubt about the outcome. Further chances were few and far between, although Carl Roberts did strike the crossbar direct from one of a series of corners swung in from the left. Having spent a couple of seasons with the home side, I recognized a stalwart defender, complete with double knee straps, who would normally be with their front Masters side. This guy almost singlehandedly kept North Wellington in the game and he was convinced that, after the break, with the wind in their favour, the deficit would be wiped out.

Although North Wellington did have more of the game in the second period they seldom looked like creating serious chances. BNU adapted well to the difficult conditions with a shorter passing game and worked several openings with good wing play on both sides of the park. It was from one of these raids down the left that Striker was on hand to double the lead when, as the keeper flapped at a cross, he calmly hooked the ball home from just inside the box. The value of this goal was proven when, with the very last kick of the game, a half clearance fell to a North Wellington midfielder who thumped in an unstoppable shot off the underside of the crossbar from all of 25 yards.